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Up for some Russian old school death metal anyone? Dig Me No Grave provides exactly that, and more, as their sophomore album Immemorial Curse is Lovecraft death metal at a high level. Formed in 2010 the band waited until 2014 to release their debut Cosmic Cult, which received good ratings from the critics. Immemorial Curse gives you more of the same concept that worked for them in the first place and it’s just as good.

Starting with an intro that tells the horror of the curse Dig Me No Grave blasts off with Ritual Slaughter. Catchy riffs and a lot of groovy from start to finish with some great solos to top it off, Dig Me No Grave got it all for you. As I’ve said before I am a big fan of death metal and Lovecraft, it’s simply a mix that goes very well together. The album is a bit of a mixed bag for me though. All in all it’s a good listen but it lacks consistency for it to reach the even higher scores as some tracks doesn’t feel quite as strong to me as they could have. In many ways this reminds me of a band I reviewed last year, Grond. Both from Russia, plays death metal and creates music about Lovecraft lore. Must be something in the water over there right?

Immemorial Curse is a great follow-up and Dig Me No Grave is sure to make old school death metal fans happy. It isn’t something I haven’t heard before quite a lot recently and it has it’s dark spots but it’s a solid album nevertheless.

Sorry for no review yesterday, had a hangover of death after being on a Sonata Arctica concert and never really got into the mood of reviewing an album. I am now though and I continue with black metal because there’s just been so many good albums coming this year from that genre. Today is also an album I’ve had on my list for a long time but for some reason not got around to review it. The Great Old Ones is a French Post-Black Metal band that’s been going strong since they formed in 2009. EOD: A Tale of Dark Legacy is the bands third full-length following their best release Tekeli-li that got a lot of praise when it came out in 2014. Question is can they follow up on that success even with two out of five members being new (Charbonnier on bass and Edouard on guitar being new members)?

For those of you who don’t know The Great Old Ones are very powerful deities (such as Cthulhu and Yig) in the H.P. Lovecraft universe which is also where the band takes its influences from when writing songs. As you may know by now I enjoy myself a good H.P. Lovecraft themed band, it’s dark, horrifying and perfect for the more evil metal bands to take influences from. Which is exactly how EOD: A Tale of Dark Legacy starts. Searching for R. Olmstead – Introduction gives you shiver down your spine with the classical horror themed music you remember as a kid watching old horror movies late at night without your parents knowing to then blast of into madness with The Shadow over Innsmouth. If H.P. Lovecraft made music this would be it.

The whole album feels like a horror movie with it’s dark and mystic atmosphere. The vocals are just as wicked as before and the instrumental part, which I was afraid wouldn’t have the same high level anymore, still got it. It seems my concern was unjustified. If you like The Great Old Ones earlier work then you will be pleased with this one too, in my opinion it might even be better than Tekeli-li (ask me tomorrow and I might say the oposite, both really good though). If you haven’t heard these French horror-loving deities before then now is the time.

The Great Old Ones third full-length EOD: A Tale of Dark Legacy is out now through one of the best labels out there Season of Mist.

Italy, a country that’s been very active this year with a new Hour of Penance release and upcoming albums from Antropofagus as well as Hideous Divinity. With that kind of heavy hitters it might be easy to forget a new challenger with the same origin, Maze Of Sothoth. What differs Maze of Sothoth from said bands is that they play more traditional death metal drawing influences from the likes of Morbid Angel, Vomitory and Vader. Add to the fact that their lyrics are heavily themed around HP Lovecraft and horror then you got yourself another beast entirely.

Cthulhu’s Calling opens up with setting an feeling of unease and horror until Maze of Sothoth blasts off with furious riffs on Lies. Make no mistakes Maze of Sothoth are here to bring the riffs to you metalheads who feels the urge to headbang tonight over a few cold beers. It’s very catchy, evil and reeks of death. Just the way us old school death metal fans wants it. The HP Lovecraft theme just adds to the pure evilness coming into my ears. I am honestly a bit surprised how well Maze of Sothoth pulls this off. Marasco and Rubini do a splendid job on guitars bringing out those killer riffs, Moioli on drums is a beast and Marchesi on bass and vocals totally nails it. Together they do really sound like an reborn Italian version of Vomitory, which is freaking sweet and full of vile energy. I do feel a few songs doesn’t deliver that same punch as for example Lies and Divine Sacrifice does but at the same time this is a debut album. When Maze of Sothoth are at it’s peak then they are a band to look out for.

Maze of Sothoth delivers a great full-length debut album with Soul Demise and I can’t wait to see what they got in store for us next. Fans of old school death metal in the veins of Vomitory, Morbid Angel and Vader got yourselves a new band to look into! Soul Demise is out now from Everlasting Spew Records.

These crazy Russians brings H.P. Lovecraft to life through their music. In stormy weathers Grond is there to spread their horror music with old school death metal that just may summon the hordes of the deep vast sea. Be it the Hydra, Kraken or even the mighty Cthulhu one of those horrific beast will be heard through Grond. Apart from the awesome songwriting and style of Grond the music in itself sounds wicked. Imagine if Bloodbath and Nile spawned a creature so frightening it had to be banished into the lowest depths of the sea there you will find Grond.

Worship the Kraken isn’t just a good old school death metal album, it’s a story from H.P Lovecraft made into music.